#LoveChattnooga

Monthly Impact

We have been partnering with local organizations to love and serve Chattanooga over the last several years. If you would like to find out more about what we have done or how you can get involved, please email our Connections Director at [email protected]! Here is a month to month overview list beginning in August 2020.

October 2020

Hardy Elementary -

We met specific classroom and school wide needs at Hardy Elementary, the inner city school we partner with.
We were to love and support the teachers and staff through Starbucks gift cards and we did Chick-Fil-A breakfast for the full staff at the end of the month.

Metropolitan Ministries -

We helped MetMin get the final items off of their Amazon wish list before moving into their new building! We were able to give 7 new file cabinets for their office needs and case management for the guests they serve.
The director of MetMin, Becky Whelchel, recently shared with us that they will be moving to their new building, the "Impact Hub", NEXT WEEK! They will be able to assist those in need soon after. We are so excited for them and can't wait to share more!

The Salvation Army of Chattanooga -

We provided 500 backpacks to The Salvation Army so that they will be able to give out these bags to the homeless in our city as winter approaches. As we talked with the staff, they shared with us what an impact this will make in the homeless community this winter and how grateful they were knowing this need is taken care. The backpacks will be filled with essential items such as hygiene items, hats, socks, etc.

First Things First -

The staff members at FTF have been working tirelessly to create resources and online content to help strengthen family dynamics, marriages, parenting, etc. in out city. They have helped thousands of people, not only in Chattanooga, but also nationwide through their increased online presence during this season. To love on and uplift the staff, we were able to give a gift basket to each staff member containing a few gift cards from local businesses, office essentials, and some stress relief items.

September 2020

Hardy Elementary -

As you can imagine this has been a hard year for the staff at Hardy Elementary- the inner city school that we have partnered with for the last 7 years. And so we have been very intentional with showering the teachers and staff with love and appreciation. One way that we have found to do that- that they love- is to bring them yummy food at school. So this month we have taken the full staff CFA breakfast, Crumbl cookies, and Maple Street biscuits to spread love and encouragement to them!
We were also able to meet needs within specific classrooms for teachers as well as providing 75 new uniforms for kids who needed them this year.
Here’s just one of the encouraging notes that the principle of Hardy sent us: “I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how blessed we are to have your support here at Hardy. There are so many times that the day gets away from me with everything going on. I don't take the time to just stop and look around to see how many people surround our school, teachers, and students with love from your church. You all are truly a wonderful blessing. I could never express enough how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness and genuine love for us. I know it's not enough but THANK YOU for everything.”

Metropolitan Ministries -

MetMin continues to do amazing work to prevent homelessness and help those most in need in our community. In addition to that, they have been working diligently to finish renovations on their new building, and are hoping to be moved in and fully operational by the end of this year. This month we were able to help with their amazon wish list for needed items. From white boards to dish soap to masks & hand sanitizer, every item and dollar helps get them one step closer to greatly increasing their reach and impact in the Chattanooga area.
A thank you from Becky Whelchel, the Executive Director at MetMin: “Y'all just keep blowing me away and I love it so much for the people we serve. Wish I could hug each and every Rockpointer!”

The Salvation Army of Chattanooga -

We had a street ministry day where we took a small team of RP volunteers and packaged beat the heat care packages, BBQ sandwich meals, and waters to give to the homeless downtown Chattanooga. We were able to walk the streets of some of our city's most heavily populated homeless communities and serve over 100 people.
One of the directors that coordinated the event shared: “Thank you for loving Chattanooga in this way. By meeting people right where they are at, you show value and worth to them. To learn their names, to show them they matter- that shows them the love of Jesus.”

August 2020

Hardy Elementary -

To ensure the safety of their students this year, teachers needed to provide individual school supply items and recess items per student. These were items that the teachers were going to have to purchase themselves, but because of your generosity we were able to get every item requested! This ensured that the students will have everything they need to succeed at the start of this school year and teachers didn’t have to pay for these items out of their pocket.

Urban League, "Shoes 4 School" -

We were able to financially support this organization's event, Shoes 4 School which donates and distributes new backpacks filled with school supplies and new shoes to students who are most in need all across the Chattanooga area. Through this event, thousands of school supplies were given as well as 600 pairs of new shoes.

Family Promise -

Over the summer the staff let us know that most of the toys for the children at the Day Center were broken or had missing pieces. The Day Center is a safe place for families to come during the day to rest, have a meal, do homework, play, etc. while they are in the process of transitioning from homelessness to stable housing. Because of your generosity, we were able to get them every item on the list from baby dolls, to board games, to toddler toys, and even some stringed lights to make the day center more warm and welcoming.

Chambliss Center, Transitional Living Program -

The Chambliss Center for Children's Transitional Living Program provides stable housing and careful case management for young adults who have aged out of traditional foster care at age 18 and have chosen to participate in Extension of Foster Care (EFC) services in the state of Tennessee. They currently have 17 single-occupancy apartments, each fully furnished with a washer/dryer, utilities, and internet.
They recently opened 6 new units, and we were able to provide the remainder of essential household items needed for these new apartments. We were also able to help with transportation costs through CARTA bus passes and Uber gift cards to help them get safely to school, jobs, the grocery store, etc.
They also let us know that the 6 students that would be moving into these apartments were all starting school this fall. Due to Covid, their schools were beginning the semester virtually, and they each needed their own laptop, which these students did not have. We were able to supply each student with a brand new laptop so that they can begin their first semester of college confidently and with the tools necessary for success.